About Our Team

Get to Know Us

At Positively Travel, we’re more than just travel advisors – we’re your personal curators of unforgettable vacation and luxury experiences. Our passionate team is dedicated to crafting custom-tailored journeys that cater to your every desire, ensuring each moment of your adventure is nothing short of extraordinary.

 

We pride ourselves on our intuitive service, anticipating your needs before you even realize them. From the moment you engage with us, you’ll feel the warmth and positivity that sets us apart. Our goal is simple: to make you feel like the VIP you indeed are.

 

With unparalleled access to the world’s most exclusive destinations and accommodations, we bring you only the best of the best. Imagine sinking into the most comfortable beds, wrapped in linens so luxurious you’ll want to take them home. That’s the level of comfort and indulgence we strive for in every aspect of your journey.

 

Our team’s expertise and attention to detail transform ordinary trips into memorable experiences—whether celebrating a milestone with your partner or the entire family, a friends trip, honeymoons, once in a lifetime trips and more—we work with you to meet your desired trip goals. We’re here to elevate your travel, making you feel like a VIP at every turn. Let us introduce you to the faces behind your next incredible adventure – a team dedicated to turning your travel dreams into reality.

 

We are proud members of the following prestigious consortiums:

 

 

These affiliations allow us to offer you unparalleled access to exclusive benefits and experiences around the world, further enhancing the luxury and personalization of your travels.

Meet Your Advisors

Mari Marks
Meet Mari
Cayla Chipp
Meet Cayla
Jeff Marks
Meet Jeff

Testimonials

  • Mari transformed our overwhelming trip planning with expert personal touches—arranging high-end hotels, matching us with charming guides, handling medical concerns, and easing travel anxiety. Her warm, caring approach and keen attention to detail made our Amsterdam and Normandy trip perfect.

    Jo Client

  • I’ve said this before, but I really like working with you, Mari. You are so responsive and provide such individualized, thorough attention.

    Sandra B. Client

Mari Marks

Mari’s approach is rooted in attentive listening and personalized planning. She excels at transforming clients’ dreams into unforgettable experiences, whether crafting a first-time adventure or planning a seasoned traveler’s next expedition.

 

As a Travel Leaders Select and Virtuoso member, Mari leverages extensive global connections to create bespoke itineraries. Her signature “101” classes on cruising, destinations, and travel essentials demystify the planning process, ensuring clients feel confident and excited about their upcoming journeys.

 

From maximizing onboard credits to navigating cultural nuances, Mari is dedicated to optimizing every aspect of her clients’ travels. She collaborates closely with each individual to turn travel aspirations into lifetime memories. Mari hopes that you can feel her passion for travel and understand that she sees travel Positively.

 

Ask Mari:

 

  • What destination is your favorite to plan for clients?
    • Cruise to anywhere in the world and Africa.

 

  • As an industry leader, share one piece of advice for newcomers to traveling by cruise?
    • It is crucial to match the cruise’s “personality” to the client’s personality.  A mismatch could be disastrous if you don’t listen to your clients and understand what they like.

 

  • What is one travel hack you always suggest to clients?
    • Use your travel points for Business or First Class air overseas.

 

  • The best part of your own vacation?
    • Planning is as much fun as the actual event.  Planning my next trip is fun for me.  The best part of my vacation is meeting local people.

Cayla Chip

Cayla Chipp joined Protravel International in January 2020 alongside her mother, Mari Marks, as a Luxury Travel Advisor. Her interest in travel began at an early age as part of the Marks Family’s journeys around the world. Cayla loves to share her insights about traveling with two young children, and her knowledge and perspective are an exciting addition to the team. 

Cayla and her colleagues offer:
 
  • Custom travel planning around the world
  • Unique ideas to support clients’ travel dreams
  • VIP perks extended from their travel partners for cruises, tours, hotels, and resorts, including complimentary daily breakfasts, upgrades, and resort credits
 
Clients can look out for travel inspiration from Cayla in their inbox and consider following her on Instagram @caylachipp. When professional travel planning services with VIP benefits are needed, Cayla encourages potential clients to think of her and her team.
 
Cayla’s motto: “Let us help you open up your world”
Ask Cayla:
 
What is one thing you always try to incorporate when planning trips for families?
 
  • I  always like when clients offer their preferences and allergies BUT I absolutely love to understand their kids favorites i.e.: favorite color, favorite show they are watching, are they sporty or artistic, etc. This helps me amplify their overall travel experience.
  • I also like to know what are your pain points so I can communicate that to my travel partners i.e.: turn down service while they are at dinner and timed properly.

 

When you’re not working, what does a perfect weekend look like?
 
  • Any time with my 2 daughters and my husband is my favorite.
  • When I am not traveling … I love making an incredibly large charcuterie board and hosting a BBQ in our backyard with good music and friends

 

Favorite luxe hotel amenity and why?
 
  • I have clients that LOVE their complimentary breakfast and will send me pictures from around the world. I LOVE that!
  • I am personally obsessed with intuitive luxury service. If I send the hotel a page of details for a clients vacation, I LOVE when my partners go above and beyond and WOW my clients with personalized welcome amenities; surprise and delight.
  • Some examples:
 
    • In San Francisco, the client received a custom chocolate statue of the Golden Gate Bridge.
    • A birthday mention and a hotel in Santorini filled my client’s room with balloons and a custom birthday cake.
    • For beach destinations, I love when I receive a beach/pool bag and hat.
    • I know my clients also love to receive a fresh curated charcuterie and cut-up fruit board they can munch on until dinner.
 
 
You are a good fit for a travel client if they: LOVE someone that will collaborate with me to make a beautiful vacation memories.  I am your travel advisor but also think of me as you “fun friend” who takes really good care of you and know the best places to stay around the world.  I’m friendly and less formal while remaining professional and providing top notch service to my clients.  I’m well versed in cool places to stay, have an incredible network of partners to work with on land travel but if you have to be open to cruising, I can absolutely steer you towards an iconic experience. I like to think I’m your new fun, positive friend you didn’t know you needed who just happens to also be really well travelled.
 

Jeff Marks

Next to veterinary medicine and caring for small animals I have loved to travel. Over the years, I have shared my travels with friends and clients and now have turned this interest into my second carrier.

 

My love of travel began 30 years ago with my first trip to Europe. The experience was on a cruise visiting many of the countries that I had dreamed of visiting. Since then, I have traveled throughout the world learning more about places I was interested in as well as discovering that I loved places that I could only image experiencing. I have discovered that going out of my comfort zone can open up possibilities that you never imagine. I have found that by traveling around the world, I know how to travel and love sharing my insight with my clients.

 

Some of my favorite locations to visit have included Wine Regions around the world, Tahiti, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. I found that I love luxury cruises as they offer the method of travel that matches how I prefer traveling.

 

I have shared my love of travel with my wife of 47 years, Mari who started Positively Travel – an associate of GTC/Protravel. Our 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren have inherited this passion as well. In fact, our youngest daughter, Cayla Chipp joined Mari 4 years ago. On behalf of Mari and Cayla, our team at Positively Travel look forward to speaking with you to help customize your next travel experience.

 

Ask Jeff:

 
  • How do you stay updated on Industry trends and news?
    • I stay updated by webinars, hotel vendors that come visit the office and traveling is the best way to learn.

 

  • We know you love wine. So is it red, white, or sparkling, and why?
    • I prefer red wine. My favorite red wine is Pinot Noir from Burgundy and Monterey.

 

  • What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try or learn?
    • I want to learn to play the guitar.

 

  • Your favorite country to spend a birthday, and why?
    • French Polynesia.  The water and weather are amazing, its quiet and not crowded.